TBTA Student Handbook
Code of Conduct

Behavior in School

The school seeks to foster an environment that is conducive to learning. Each and every student deserves a school that is free from any distractions that take away from their ability to learn. The school's view of appropriate student behavior includes a sense of orderliness that pervades the entire school day. Students are expected to:

• Act in a courteous and responsible, Christ-like manner to all adults and peers.
• Properly respect the property of the school and others.
• Act appropriately as an individual and as a member of the group.
• Follow all school rules and procedures.

The school expects all students to adhere to the following common school procedures:

1. Dress in accordance with the spirit and letter of the dress code.
2. Help keep the school clean by not littering and picking up after yourself.
3. Avoid any actions that damage or deface school property.
4. No student is to bring electronic devices such as games, radios, tape or cd players, mp3 players, magazines, or other related items to school. All cell phones are to be put away at 7:30 a.m. until dismissal. Use of cell phones during school hours will result in the following:
• Take up cell phone and student can pick it up after dismissal. Discipline slip to student.
• Take up cell phone and parent can pick it up after dismissal. Discuss with parent.
• Conference with parent. Loss of cell phone privilege on school property.
5. Avoid disruptive behavior by complying with all rules and procedures posted in classrooms, hallway, lunchroom, and restrooms.
6. Profane language and obscene body language will not be tolerated.
7. Students are not to sit on tables or desks or tip chairs.
8. Students are expected to do their own work. The Lord requires honesty and, therefore, it is the rule of the house.
9. Trinity Baptist Temple Academy takes a strong stand against the punk and rock culture; no related music or paraphernalia will be brought to school or be part of any school function.
10. Food and drink is confined to the lunch areas, unless otherwise allowed by the office. No gum will be allowed this year. Normal discipline procedure from teachers.
11. Students must be in assigned location after school.
12. The sale of any item at school is not permitted without prior written permission from the administration.

Note: The school has disciplinary authority over a student during the school day and at all school-sponsored activities.

Consequences

The most rewarding consequence for appropriate behavior is the satisfaction that comes with functioning independently. At all times, the school administration and faculty seek to recognize good behavior and accentuate the positive. Experience and research show that children thrive when they clearly understand what behavior is expected of them, are given the opportunity to make behavior choices, and accept responsibility for the natural consequences.

Depending on the age of the student, consequences for inappropriate behavior may include:

K4 - 2nd

1. Color Changes
2. Parent phoned
3. Office visit (swat)

K4 - 2nd will also receive Discipline Slips for:

• Unexcused absence
• Unexcused tardy
• Dress code violation
• Incomplete assignments
• Office visit for excessive disobedience

3rd - High School
The individual teacher in grades 3rd - 12th will handle violations of the classroom rules using the proper steps and communication to the parents through Discipline Slips.

1. Detention (Three detentions for the same offense could result in an office visit)
2. Office visit / Swat (Three office visits could result in a two-day suspension)
3. Parent phoned / Conference
4. Suspension (The third suspension could result in a possible expulsion)

Detention Slips (D'Slip): Student could receive one after-school detention for:

• Unprepared for class
• Unexcused tardy
• Unexcused absence
• Incomplete homework or classwork
• Disobedience: Breaking posted rules in the hallway or lunchroom after grace period,
  3rd-6th Grade: three demerits throughout the day;
  7th-12th Grade: two or more demerits within one class period.
• Dress code violation
• Chewing gum
• Disorganized

Office Slips (O'Slip): Student could be referred to the office for parent contact and/or swat for:

• 3 consecutive Detention Slips for the same offense (Rebellion)
• Disrespectful
• Inappropriate language (Slang)
• Cheating
• Dishonesty
• Pushing/Shoving
• Skipping detention
• Contraband (no swat, but item taken up)

Guidelines for student office referral:

• The teacher will communicate the offense to the administrators with an office discipline slip.
• The administrator will speak to the student to ensure that he/she is in agreement and takes responsibility in the offense(s).
• The student is given opportunity to pray and ask God for forgiveness.
• Teacher could call the parent on the first visit.
• The K4 or K5 teacher, along with another teacher or administrator to oversee, will administer the swat for their students.
• A male will administer swats for the boys in grades 1-12, and a female will administer the swats for the girls in grades 1 - 12. (Another teacher will oversee.)
• The visit will conclude with a hug, prayer, and encouragement from the teacher.

Suspension Slips (S'Slip): Student could receive three days suspension for:

• 3 consecutive Office Slips
• Fighting
• Stealing
• Inappropriate Language (Profanity)

Note: After a student has been suspended two times, the next step could be expulsion.

Removal from Classroom

Discretionary Removal

Discretionary removal is defined as a temporary removal from a classroom, and will not be considered as a formal removal by a teacher or an administrator. General misconduct violations will not necessarily result in the formal removal of the student from class or another placement, but may result in a routine referral, formal removal, or the use of any other discipline management technique. Discretionary removal may include, but is not limited to, removal to another location such as the Principal's Office, another classroom, or Special Assignment Class.

Formal Removal

Formal removal is defined as a long-term removal from the classroom, and may result if the student's behavior has been documented by the teacher as repeatedly interfering with the teacher's ability to teach or it the student's behavior is so unruly, disruptive, or abusive that the teacher cannot teach.

If the violation results in Formal Removal:

• The Principal or other appropriate administrator will schedule a conference within three school days with the student's parent and the teacher. The student shall be included in the conference.


• The Principal or other appropriate administrator will notify the student of appropriate consequences.


• Until a conference can be held as a result of a formal teacher removal or administrator removal, the Principal or other appropriate administrator may place a student in:
  
  
  • The Principal's Office.
  • Another appropriate classroom.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment shall be limited to spanking or paddling the student, and shall be administered only in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. The student shall be told the reason corporal punishment is being administered, and will be punished for only the offensives of that day.


2. Only the Principal, Assistant Principal, or teacher, along with another teacher to oversee the punishment shall administer corporal punishment.


3. Upon completion of the corporal punishment, we will have prayer with the student.

Detention

After-school detention will be served from 3:10 - 4:00 p.m. Students must sign-in as a record of their attendance. Failure to sign-in will result in an unserved detention, which will be served again.

Suspension

Any student suspended will not be allowed to participate in school-sponsored or school-related extracurricular and non-curricular activities.

Parents of students who have been suspended shall be advised that it is their responsibility to provide adequate supervision for the student during the period of suspension.

Expulsion

A student will be expelled for any of the following offenses if committed on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property unless the student is less than 10 years of age:

• Assault of a teacher or student.
• Retaliation against a teacher or student.
• Indecency with a child.
• Insubordination.
• Arson.
• Possessing a prohibited weapon (i.e. firearm, knife, club, etc.)
• The use, gift, sale, delivery, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, other controlled substances, dangerous drugs, abusable glue, or volatile chemicals.
• Vandalism.
• Robbery or theft.
• Extortion, coercion, or blackmail.
• Kidnapping.
• Profanity, vulgar language, or other obscene gestures directed toward teachers, other school employees, or other students.
• Hazing.
• Fighting, committing physical abuse, or threatening physical abuse.
• Sexual harassment of a student.
• Falsification of records, passes, or other school-related documents.
• Possession or distribution of pornographic materials.
• Leaving school grounds without permission.
• Refusal to accept discipline management techniques proposed by the teacher or principal.

Expulsion Term

A student shall be expelled by written letter of the Principal or his/her designee, setting the term of the expulsion based on the seriousness of the offense and other relevant factors. Provided that the student has shown repentance for their actions, readmittance may be considered.

Immediate Removal

In an emergency, the Principal or the Principal's designee will order the immediate removal of a student for the following reasons:

• Emergency expulsion when people or property are in immediate danger of harm.

Emergency removal of a student who exhibits certain conditions or behaviors will be removed from regular classroom and campus.
Such conditions may include:

• Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Being highly agitated.
• Suffering from any other condition that temporarily threatens the student's welfare, other individual's welfare, or the efficient operation of the classroom and school.

Discipline

"Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27

Even as the Father disciplines in love, so the staff at Trinity Baptist Temple Academy will endeavor always to discipline in love. Discipline is to instruct and to remind us of God's line of authority as revealed in His Word. It is administered in love and compassion, with forgiveness and restoration. Trinity Baptist Temple Academy recognizes the Scriptural authority of the home, specifically the father.

When corporal punishment is necessary, it is to be administered only by the principal or his designee in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. Correction is not to be done in the presence of the class.

Students will be responsible for their actions and shall conduct themselves in keeping with their level of maturity, showing care and respect for fellow students and persons in authority. At no time shall a student be discourteous to a teacher, in speech or action. Administrative action will follow a challenge of authority.

Each teacher will make an effort to counsel with the student to remove any problem that may arise. Whenever possible, the teacher will attempt to work out a problem with a student, without administrative involvement. However, a student deemed by the teacher to need an administrative conference will be sent to the administration for further action. If, after continued counseling with the student and/or parent, the behavior of a student does not change, the Principal may suspend the student from school, asking the parent to take the student home until the family can resolve the issues. When resolved, the student may be brought back to school by the parent.

An administrative conference will consist of a meeting with the student and parents. At that time, the student will be informed of what was done in violation of school policy. The student will be given an opportunity to explain his version of the facts. The Principal has the authority given by the School Board to prescribe detention, corporal punishment, probation, suspension or expulsion. Every effort will be made by the school to keep parents informed of any major disciplinary action taken.

The student must attend detentions assigned by teachers. Parents will be notified about detention and will assume responsibility for the transportation of the student.

Parents are responsible to God for the discipline of their children. Should discipline problems continue with a given student at any grade level or should a student demonstrate open rebellion to a teacher or staff member or should there be an outbreak of uncontrollable behavior, a parent will be called and will be expected to come to school immediately. A conference with the Principal will determine the next course of action. The student will not be allowed to return to school until the problem has been corrected.